Valley skateboarders support teen battling leukemia

Sebastian James is getting support from the community as he battles the disease

KNXV

Sebastian James

Courtesy: Sebastian James

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PHOENIX - One Valley teen is getting support from the skateboarding community as he battles leukemia.

"Skateboarding for me is kind of that release, some people go to a gym," said Trent Martin, owner of Cowtown Skateboards. "Never been into any kind of sports, team sports. Skateboarding, you can do by yourself."

Martin's passion dates back to his childhood. It's the same sort of passion that's shared by Valley resident Sebastian James, an 18-year old teenager fighting an uphill battle of his own -- acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

"He initially started having problems with his leg, so he had to give up skateboarding pretty quickly," said Cherie Buck-Hutchinson, James' grandmother who spoke to us from Phoenix Children's Hospital where the teen is recovering from a bone marrow transplant.

Before the transplant in May, his family reached out to Cowtown Skateboards for support. The Phoenix business had no problem getting the word out to skaters around the world.

"They responded by coming down here and giving gifts and just letting the whole skate community know about his situation," Hutchinson said.

The business is also giving away prizes on their website to those who donate to the family's Fundly account that will help pay for James' medical costs when he's out of the hospital. It's the least Martin says he can do for a fellow skater.

"You're in the club, you ride a skateboard, you're a part of it, you're family," Martin said.